. . . Other Feathers In Our Cap

November 29, 1998

No, it's not just the Patriots.

In case you haven't noticed, here are other, albeit less dramatic, recent boosts:

* For the third year in a row, Facilities Magazine, a national publication, has awarded its Top Destination Award to the Greater Hartford Convention & Visitors Bureau. The bureau, which was judged in the small convention space category, was recognized for the ``exceptional job'' it does ``in promoting and servicing meetings, conventions, trade shows and special events.'' The award was based on voting by association executives and trade show and convention planners from throughout the country.

With a new and much bigger convention center in the works, it's good to know that Hartford will not be a novice in marketing itself as a city with first-class facilities.

* This year's United Way and Combined Health Appeal campaign has raised a goal-shattering $23.4 million, almost 6.5 percent more than the previous year. This is the biggest percentage increase in more than a decade. Greater Hartford per-capita giving was $26.96, compared with $17.17 for United Ways of comparable size throughout the country. Such results can only distinguish the region for its residents' and employers' caring and civic-mindedness.

* Caring, civic-mindedness and exceptional vision has paid off for the MetroHartford Millennium project, which celebrated its first anniversary last week. This highly charged volunteer group's ambitious goal for the next decade is to make our region one of the 10 best places in the country to live and work. To accomplish the task, Millennium identified 26 action steps, nearly one-third of which have already been implemented. The remaining steps will be taken by 2000. Here are some of the first-year highlights:

* Set up a precision-manufacturing training program that graduated 100 students, who have found better-paying jobs in their new fields. A second group is now in training.

* Geared up for similar training programs in financial services and construction industries for the first quarter of next year.

* Completed a comprehensive urban-design strategy for downtown Hartford that includes increased housing, improved transportation and streetscapes and coordination of real estate development.

* Created tools to make the region more attractive for young professionals.

* Organized community conversations on how race relations affect the economic health of the region. About 50 conversations already are taking place throughout the metropolitan area.

Making Greater Hartford one of the 10 best regions in the country requires a multifaceted effort. With the commitment and hard work of business, civic and government leaders, the goal will be met.

Yes, NFL football will be a major boost. But that alone will not transform the region. A job well-done requires a massive and collective effort by countless individuals and organizations, including MetroHartford Millennium, United Way and the convention and visitors bureau.